Storage racks



H- H. CASSEL STORAGE RACKS Jan. 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1959 INVENTOR. HARRISON H. CASSE L BY W ATTORNEYS Unite This invention relates generally to racks and particularly to improvements in a knock-down type rack.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved rack which may be quickly and conveniently assembled, disassembled and reassembled Without the use of tools and with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a rack which may be readily assembled without the use of bolts, and readily disassembled to facilitate moving the rack from one location to another, and for shipping purposes.

Other advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a rack constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged front View showing how the stringer members are connected to the end frames;

FIGURE 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section on.line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of a shelf bracket; and

FlGURE 6 is an enlarged view of a modified shelf bracket.

Referring to the drawings, the exemplary rack constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention comprises opposite end frames it) and 12. Each of these end frames is provided with a fore corner post 14 and a rear corner post 16. Extending betwen these posts are horizontally extending tie members 18 and cross-bracing 2i). The several ties 18 and the cross-bracing 20 may be secured to the posts 14 and 16 by any suitable means, for example, by welding.

Each of the corner posts is provided with a base wall 22 and opposite side walls 24. Marginal portions 26 of the side walls 24 are turned outwardly from one another and back over the side walls 24 thereby to provide a pair of grooves 28 extending the full length of the post. The base wall of the post is provided with two laterally spaced rows of elongated openings 30.

Ex.ending between the opposite end frames and 12 are a plurality of stringer members in the form of structural channels 32. At each end of each channel 32 is a connection plate having a main body part 34 extending across the end of the channel member 32 and having the same rigidly secured thereto as by welding. One vertically extending marginal portion of the connection plate is turned back over the main body part 34 of the connection plate and is recessed as at 36 and 38 thereby to provide a pair of hooks, each having a base portion 42, a terminal portion 44 and a bight 46. Portion 44 has a sloping face 47 which engages wall 22 and acts to cam body part 34 into tight engagement with groove 28. The hooks aforesaid are freely projected respectively through a pair of the elongated openings 36, roundedtop and bottom, as shown. The narrow edges of the base portions 42 of the hooks engage the narrow rounded lower terminal edges of the openings thereby to cam the body parts 34 into tight engagement respectively with the side walls 24 of the posts.

To removably lock the channel member 32 in place, a

tates Patent ice locking element is provided having opposite end portions 48 and a connecting portion 50. The opposite end portions 48 of the locking element are offset relative to one another as shown. The connecting portion 50 of the locking element is seated upon the edge of the connection plate, the opposite end portions 48 of the locking element being disposed respectively on opposite sides of the base wall 22 of the post. The width of the connecting portion 50 of the locking element seated upon the upper edge of the connection plate is such that should the channel 32 tend to rise, the movement upwardly would be arrested before the hooks of the connection plate could withdraw from the elongated openings.

In setting up the rack, the end frames 10 and 12 are raised in position. Then one of the stringers 32 is raised to the desired elevation and positioned with the hooks at each end thereof respectively in registry with a pair of the elongated openings in the oppoied vertically extending corner post. The stringer is then pressed inwardly so that the hooks at each end thereof respectively enter the openings 30, and so that simultaneously the vertically extending edges respectively of the connection plates enter the vertically extending grooves 28 of the corner posts. Then the stringer 32 is pressed downwardly to engage tapered faces 47 snugly against wall 22 and body parts 34 in grooves 28 thus restraining in a positive manner any movement of channel 32 in either avertical or a horizontal plane. The stringer 32 is locked in position by the locking element, freely projected through one of the elongated openings 36 and seated upon the connection plate as shown. This procedure is repeated in the front and the back of the rack and at the desired elevations to afford the desired number of shelves for supporting, for example, pallets, designated 52. To disassemble the rack, the above-described procedure is carried out in reverse order. As will be obvious from the drawings, each of the end frames may serve as an intermediate frame between a pair of rack sections.

If desired, a shelf may include spreader members in the form of laterally spaced wooden beams 54, each provided with a pair of brackets respectively at opposite ends thereof. Each bracket is in the form of a pocket having a base wall 56, opposite side walls 58 and an end wall 60. The end of the beam 54 is snugly fitted into the pocket and, if desired, may be secured in place by a nail driven through opening 62. The end wall 60 is extended over and removably hooked under the top flange of the stringer 32, as at 64. It will be understood that although only two beams 54 are shown any desired number may be utilized.

Alternatively, if desired, a shelf may include a wooden deck, which may be in the form of wooden slat members 66, as shown, or in the form of a single sheet of plywood (not shown). Corresponding end portions of the slats (or a longitudinally extending marginal portion of the plywood deck) are carried by a bracket extending the full length of the associated stringer 352, the bracket being provided with a base wall 68, and an end wall 70 terminating in an extension hooked under the top flange of the associated stringer 32, as at 72. lDimples, as at 74, may be provided to separate the slats, which dimples may be omitted in a case where a plywood deck is used. It will be understood that although the deck is shown as extending only part way between the end frames, it will be understood that it may be of any desired length.

It will be obvious that the rack of the present invention may be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, and after being set up, the height of the shelves from the floor may be changed at will with a minimum expenditure of time and effort. The rack may be conveniently knocked down for movement thereof to a different location and for shipping purposes. In addition, the rack lends itself readily to adaptation for heavy duty.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention, as shown and described, is susceptible of various changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without any departure from the general principles or real spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to claim the present invention broadly as well as specifically as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rack, an open rigid frame structurecomprising a pair of rigid opposite end frames, a plurality of horizontally extending stringer members interposed between said end frames for maintaining the same upright, each of said frames including a pair of corner posts of channel shape in transverse section, the opposite side walls of each of said posts being turned outwardly from one another and back upon themselves thereby to form longitudinally extending grooves, said pair of posts being disposed with their base walls forming the narrow vertically extending outer edges of said frame, and means at each end of each stringer member for quick detachably connecting the end of the stringer member to the associated post including a connection plate interposed between the end of the stringer member and the post, the end of the stringer member being rigidly secured to the connection plate, and the latter abutting the opposed side wall of the post, said plate having one vertically extending marginal portion snugly nested in the opposed vertically extending post groove, and having the opposite side marginal portion turned over the base wall of the post and removably interlocked therewith.

2. In a rack, an open rigid frame structure comprising a pair of rigid opposite end frames, a plurality of horizontally extending stringer members interposed between said end frames for maintaining the same upright, each of said frames including a pair of corner posts of channel shape in transverse section, the opposite side walls of each of said posts being turned outwardly from one another and back upon themselves thereby to form longitudinally extending grooves, said pair of posts being disposed with their base walls forming the narrow vertically extending outer edges of said frame, and means at each end of each stringer member for quick detachably connecting the end of the stringer member to the associated post including a plurality of connection elements afiixed to the end of said stringer member, one of said elements extending laterally from said stringer member for abutting the opposed side wall of the post, and for projection of a vertically extending marginal portion thereof snugly into the opposed vertically extending post groove, and a pair of said connection elements extending in longitudinal continuation of said stringer member over the base wall of the post in vertically spaced relation to one another, said pair of elements being removably hooked into, and having tapered faces engaged with, said base wall.

3. In a rack, an open rigid frame structure comprising a pair of rigid opposite end frames, a plurality of horizontally extending stringer members interposed between said end frames for maintaining the same upright, each of said frames including a pair of corner posts of channel shape in transverse section, the opposite side walls of each of said posts being turned outwardly from one another and back upon themselves thereby to form longitudinally extending grooves, said pair of posts being disposed With their base walls forming the narrow vertically extending outer edges of said frame, and means at each end of each stringer member for quick detachably connecting the end of the stringer member to the associated post including a plurality of connection elements aflixed to the end of said stringer member, one of said elements eXtending laterally from said stringer member for abutting the opposed side wall of the post, and for projection of a vertically extending marginal portion thereof snugly into the opposed vertically extending post groove, and a pair of said connection elements extending in longitudinal continuation of said stringer member and overlying the base wall of the post, said pair of elements terminating respectively in a pair of vertically spaced hooks extending laterally therefrom and projected freely respectively through a pair of vertically spaced openings formed in said base wall.

4. In a rack, an open rigid frame structure comprising a pair of rigid opposite end frames, a plurality of horizontally extending stringer members interposed between said end frames for maintaining the same upright, each of said frames including a pair of corner posts of channel shape in transverse section, the opposite side walls of each of said posts being turned outwardly from one another and back upon themselves thereby to form longitudinally extending grooves, said pair of posts being disposed with their base walls forming the narrow vertically extending outer edges of said frame, and means at each end of each stringer member for quick detachably connecting the end of the stringer member to the associated post including a plurality of connection elements affixed to the end of said stringer member, one of said elements extending laterally from said stringer member for abutting the opposed side wall of the post, and for projection of a vertically extending marginal portion thereof snugly into the opposed vertically extending post groove, and a pair of said connection elements extending in longitudinal continuation of said stringer member and overlying the base wall of the post, said pair of elements terminating respectively in a pair of vertically spaced hooks extending laterally therefrom and selectively projected freely respectively through one pair of a series of vertically equally spaced elongated openings formed in said base wall.

5. In a rack, an open rigid frame structure comprising a pair of rigid opposite end frames, a plurality of horizontally extending stringer members interposed between said end frames for maintaining the same upright, each of said frames including a pair of corner posts of channel shape in transverse section, the opposite side Walls of each of said posts being turned outwardly from one another and back upon themselves thereby to form longitudinally extending grooves, said pair of posts being disposed with their base walls forming the narrow vertically extending outer edges of said frame, means at each end of each stringer member for quick detachably connecting the end of the stringer member to the associated post including a plurality of connection elements afiixed to the end of said stringer member, one of said elements extending laterally from said stringer member for abutting the opposed side wall of the post, and for projection of a vertically extending marginal portion thereof snugly into the opposed vertically extending post groove, and a pair of said connection elements extending in longitudinal continuation of said stringer member and overlying the base wall of the post, said pair of elements terminating respectively in a pair of downwardly turned vertically spaced hooks extending laterally therefrom and selectively projected freely respectively through one pair of a series of vertically equally spaced elongated openings formed in said wall, the base portions of said hooks being seated respectively upon the lower terminal edges of said elongated openings, and means for removably securing said hook elements against displacement including an ele ment freely removably projected through one of said elongated openings and disposed in overlying relation to the base portion of the hook passing through said opening.

6. In a rack, an open rigid frame structure comprising a pair of rigid opposite end frames, a plurality of horizontally extending stringer members interposed between said end frames for maintaining the same upright, each of said frames including a pair of corner posts of chanel shape in transverse section, the opposite side walls of each of said posts being turned outwardly from one another and back upon themselves thereby to form longitudinally extending grooves, said pair of posts being disposed with their base Walls forming the narrow vertically extending outer edges of said frame, and means at each end of each stringer member for quick detachably connecting the end of the stringer member to the associated post including a plurality of connection elements aflixed to the end of said stringer member, one of said elements extending laterally from said stringer member for abutting the opposed side wall of the post, and for projection of a vertically extending marginal portion thereof snugly into the opposed vertically extending post groove, and a pair of said connection elements extending in longitudinal continuation of said stringer member and overlying the base Wall of the post, said pair of elements terminating respectively in a pair of vertically spaced hooks extending laterally therefrom and projected freely respectively through a pair of vertically spaced openings formed in said base wall, the bight of said hooks being of a size for snugly receiving said base wall.

7. In a rack, an open rigid frame structure comprising a pair of rigid opposite end frames, a plurality of horizontally extending stringer members interposed between said end frames for maintaining the same upright, each of said frames including a pair of corner posts of channel shape in transverse section, the opposite side walls of each of said posts being turned outwardly from one another and back upon themselves thereby to form longitudinally extending grooves, said pair of posts being disposed with their base walls forming the narrow vertically extending outer edges of said frame, means at each end of each stringer member for quick detachably connecting the end of the stringer member to the associated post including a connection plate interposed between the end of the stringer member and the post, the end of the stringer member being rigidly secured to the connection plate, and the latter abutting the opposed side wall of the post, said plate having one vertically extending marginal portion snugly nested in the opposed vertically extending post groove, and having the opposite side marginal portion turned over the base wall of the post and removably interlocked therewith, and bracket means removably fitted over said stringers and adapted for carrying a shelf forming member,

8. In a pallet rack, a column member having a front and a side face, forwardly facing openings in said front face, means at the rear edge of said side face defining a forwardly facing groove, a stringer having a face at one end thereof abutting said side face of said column member, means at said one end defining hooks engaging in said forwardly facing openings in said front face, and said stringer having a holding element engaging in said forwardly facing groove at the rear edge of said side face.

9. In a pallet rack, a generally channel-shaped column member comprising a front web and side flanges extend ing rearwardly from opposite side edges of said web, the rear edges of said flanges being bent outwardly then forwardly to define forwardly facing narrow grooves extending along the rear edges of said side flanges, longitudinally spaced opening through said front web, an elongated stringer, a plate secured to said stringer to extend transversely across an end thereof and adapted to abut one of said side flanges with the rear edge of said plate in said forwardly facing narrow groove, the front edge of said plate being bent to define a front flange overlying a portion of said front web, and hooks carried by said front flange for engaging in said openings of said web to support said stringer on said column while holding the rear edge of said plate in said groove.

10. A pallet rack as defined in claim 8 wherein said forwardly facing groove at the rear edge of said side face comprises an elongated groove parallel to said side and front faces, said holding element engaging therein comprising a rearwardly extending flange at the rear edge of said end face.

11. A pallet rack as defined in claim 10 wherein said hooks are provided with cam edges engaging with edges of said openings in said front face to force said flange rearwardly into said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,473,817 Gorsline Nov. 13, 1923 2,815,130 Franks Dec. 3, 1957 2,893,567 Steele July 7, 1959 2,937,767 Butler May 24, 1960 

1. IN A RACK, AN OPEN RIGID FRAME STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF RIGID OPPOSITE END FRAMES, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING STRINGER MEMBERS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID END FRAMES FOR MAINTAINING THE SAME UPRIGHT, EACH OF SAID FRAMES INCLUDING A PAIR OF CORNER POSTS OF CHANNEL SHAPE IN TRANSVERSE SECTION, THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF EACH OF SAID POSTS BEING TURNED OUTWARDLY FROM ONE ANOTHER AND BACK UPON THEMSELVES THEREBY TO FORM LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVES, SAID PAIR OF POSTS BEING DISPOSED WITH THEIR BASE WALLS FORMING THE NARROW VERTICALLY EXTENDING OUTER EDGES OF SAID FRAME, AND MEANS AT EACH END OF EACH STRINGER MEMBER FOR QUICK DETACHABLY CONNECTING THE END OF THE STRINGER MEMBER TO THE ASSOCIATED POST INCLUDING A CONNECTION PLATE INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE END OF THE STRINGER MEMBER AND THE POST, THE END OF THE STRINGER MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE CONNECTION PLATE, AND THE LATTER ABUTTING THE OPPOSED SIDE WALL OF THE POST, SAID PLATE HAVING ONE VERTICALLY EXTENDING MARGINAL PORTION SNUGLY NESTED IN THE OPPOSED VERTICALL EXTENDING POST GROOVE, AND HAVING THE OPPOSITE SIDE MARGINAL PORTION TURNED OVER THE BASE WALL OF THE POST AND REMOVABLY INTERLOCKED THEREWITH. 